noun
hole
hohl
noun
1
A hollow space or opening in something solid, or a gap that goes all the way through.
"She dug a hole in the garden to plant the tree."
"There's a hole in your sock, right at the toe."
2
A flaw, weakness, or gap in an argument, plan, or system.
"The lawyer found a hole in the prosecution's case."
3
In golf, one of the numbered targets a player aims the ball into, or a full round segment of the course leading to it.
"He birdied the ninth hole to take the lead."
How to Use Hole
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn empty gap or opening — literal (in the ground, a wall, clothing) or figurative (in a plan or argument).
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "whole" (complete) — they sound identical but mean opposite things.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
dig a hole
poke a hole in
hole in one
black hole
Word Forms
holed past tense, holes plural, Holes plural, holes singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “hole”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
She dug a _____ in the garden to plant the tree.
Etymology
From Old English hol, meaning "hollow place or cavity," from a very old Germanic root related to the word "hollow."